Currently, my kitchen table looks like some kind of crazy lady tiki bar. Turns out writing a book about homemade cocktails is a lot of fun. And messy. I did have a slightly awkward moment yesterday when buying a 1.5l bottle of vodka straight after the school run – I don’t think me saying “this isn’t as bad as it looks” to the woman behind the counter helped – but other than that, all good. Anyway, here’s something that would be perfect for Mother’s Day, either as a present or for self-gifting purposes. It’s pretty cheap and really easy to make, looks gorgeous (bright pink; so now) and best of all, tastes amazing. Step forward the strawberry shrub, a kind of sweet and sour syrup that you can add to cocktails or use as a base for booze-free drinks. Here’s what you do:
Slice 250g strawberries, add to a kilner jar and pour in 250ml of apple cider vinegar, 250g of sugar and a handful of fresh basil leaves.
Muddle the ingredients in the jar (just gently crush them against the bottom of the jar with the end of a rolling pin or mortar if you haven’t got a muddler) then seal the lid and shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it like a Polaroid picture.
Leave it in a cool place overnight, then strain and put back into a clean jar. Store in the fridge and it’ll keep for months.
Now get a bottle of Asti (I’ve recommended one in this week’s wine reviews, along with a red for less than a fiver!) and on Sunday pour 25ml (around half an egg cup) of syrup into a coupe or flute glass before topping up with fizz. Sip it, feet up, whilst eating cake.
Happy Mother’s Day x
Big thanks to Ben from Seedlip for his gorgeous shrub recipe.
Thank you for the tips! Mom loves wine just like any mom does I suppose, but I’m not so knowledgable about wines, so your blog really helped get some ideas!